EGA2006 UPDATE No. 4
From SI Exco News
Extraordinary GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2006 eGA2006 Update No. 4
Dear National Secretary
In my previous eGA2006 Update you were advised that Exco had deferred the timing of eGA 2006 and had also accepted the proposal from Servas Italy to host the eGA.
We received four invitations to host the eGA in 2006, including ones from Venezuela and Germany and subsequently we reviewed two proposals from Servas India and Servas Italy. We thank everyone who extended their invitations. We have now completed an intensive review of the proposals.
Exco decided to accept the proposal from Servas Italy to hold the eGA in Italy from Sunday 2nd April to Saturday 8th April 2006, the venue being the Park Hotel at Latina. The venue is located south of Rome with a frequent rail service and journey time of only 35 minutes. I mentioned in my previous letter to you, that the venue has been used by Servas Italy before, with good results. More details of the venue, registration fees and the criteria for funding etc will be advised to you shortly.
In making this decision Exco wishes to point out that Servas Germany and in particular Gerald Hoelscher have spent many hours of their personal time and intense effort in logistics planning of the eGA for Frankfurt. Exco wishes to say "thank you" to both Inken Resa-Thomas and Gerald Hoelscher for their dedicated involvement, and we ask all National Secretaries to join us in our appreciation of their good work.
In summary of our decision to accept the alternate venue:
Firstly, the dates for Frankfurt were 19th to 24th January 2006. This means that the last-minute work of preparing the eGA would have to be done in December and January, during high holy weeks of at least three of the world’s religious Faiths. Exco was aware of that potential conflict, but these were the only dates available at the attractive venue found by Servas Germany. No other dates were available due to the 2006 World Soccer Cup Championships being held in Germany which fully committed all suitable venues.
The venue identified in Italy has no such time limitations. The venue can adjust to Servas’s preference for flexible timing and convenient dates. The eGA dates planned for Frankfurt covered two working weeks for those delegates in the workforce. Holding the eGA in Italy allows us the flexibility to commence the eGA on a Sunday, thereby allowing delegates to travel to and from the venue at weekends and only losing one week's work.
Several countries have suggested that while there are compelling reasons to hold the emergency EGA, a brief delay would afford greater assurance of quality results.
Several comments have been made to Exco from National Secretaries in tropical or semi-tropical regions, fearing extra personal expenses, should the timing of an eGA be during European winter.
Venue accommodation, meals and facility costs are lower than the costs of the venue nominated in Germany. Exco knows that total costs are important to delegates to the eGA who have to obtain funds to cover your eGA attendance and travel.
Most of the current Exco had tendered their resignations, to coincide with the timing of the eGA. That principle of resignation and replacement by the eGA is still in place, although the dates of the resignations will be adjusted, to the new schedule indicated for the eGA.
In peace and friendship
Geoff Maltby
President – Servas International
